Folding ax.



PATBNTBD SEPT. 15', 1903.`

c. P. WING. FOLDING AX.

APPLICATION FILED HAY 26, 1903.

NO MODEL.

Tn: Ncnms Eriks co, PHoYwLl'x-Hm wAsmNafoN. n, c.

UNITED STATES Patented September 15, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FOLDING AXi SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,869, dated September 15, 1903.

Application filed May 26, 1903- sellal N0. 158,804. (N0 mOflBl.)

T0 cir/ZZ whom t mary concern.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES P. WING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hinsdale, county of Dupage, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and usefullmprovement in Folding Axes; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

' My invention relates in general to axes or liatchets, and more particularly to a folding pocket-ax.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an ax which maybe foldedinto a coinpact space when not inuse, and thereby easily carried in the pocket of the user.

A further object of my invention is to provide an aX the handle of which may be telescoped,so as to shorten the same, and the head of which may be folded partially within the handle and when folded have its cutting edge inclosed within a shield and when open securely held in position for use.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a folding pocketax which will be simple rin construction, inexpensive in manufacture, and durable and'efficient in use.

Myinvention, generally described, consists in an ax having a telescopic handle, a head pivotally secured to the handle, a strut for rigidly retaining the handle in position for use, The strut also serving as a shield to protect the cutting edge when the head is folded upon the handle, and means mounted within the handle operatively connected to the strut for supporting` the same both in position to protect the cutting edge of the ax and in position to retain the head in condition for use.

My invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in which- Figure l is an elevational view of the ax in position for use; Fig. 2, alongitudinal central section showing the ax folded; and Fig. 3, a sectional plan view taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2, lookin g downwardly.

The same reference characters are used in the several ligures of the drawings to indicate the same parts.

Reference character A indicates the head of the ax, provided with a cutting edge A'.

B designates the portion of the handle of the ax to which the head is pivotally secured. This portion of the handle may conveniently be made of metal tubing flattened at one end and provided with a slot at the end thereof, forming ears between which the head is pivoted, as indicated at a. The slot b2 in the under side of the section B of the handle eX- tends away from the end a distance slightly greater than the length of the head, so as to permit the head to be partially received within the handle when in its folded condition, as indicated in Fig. 2. A second slot b' is pro vided in the handle, on the upper side thereof, to permit the side of the head to partially extend through the handle when folded and to permit of the free operation of the strut D for supporting the handle. A. web B is formed between the end and the slot b', which extends to a point adjacent to the pivot ay and serves as a stop to engage the head of the ax when in its position for use.

Pivotally mounted within the section B of the handle is a lever C. A short shaft c serves as a fulcrum for the lever C- and is supported at its opposite ends in the side Walls of the section B of the handle. The end of the le ver C adjacent to the head of the aX is provided with a slightly-offset lug c, to which is pivotally secured the strut D. This strut is preferably formed of metal folded upon itself to form a shield for surrounding the cutting edge A of the aX when in its folded position. The inner end of the strut D is provided with ears between which the lug c of the lever C projects. A pivot d' unites the ears on the strut to the lug c.

E indicates a telescopic section of the handle, which surrounds the section B of the' handle. Fixed to the end of the section E is a linger F, the hooked end j of which extends within the section B. The finger F may be conveniently secured by means of a screw e to the end of the section E. When the two parts of the handle are telescoped as shown in Fig. 2, the hook f forcibly engages the strut D and retains the same around nthe cutting edge of the ax, as shown in Fig. 2, while such hook when the handle is extended engages the lever C and oscillates the same to insure the engagement of the strut with the head of the'ax to retain the same in position for use. Alug c2 on the end of the lever C serves as a stop to engage the hook f to limit the outward movement of the section E of the handle.

The operation and manner of using my invention are as follows: When the ax is to be used, the head A is swung outwardly'with respect to the end of the handle until the rear under edge thereof engages the web BC The strut D is then swung about its pivot d until the outer end thereof engages the lower edge of the head of the ax, after which the extensible portion E of the handle is drawn outwardly, thereby rocking thelever C, through the engagement of the hook f with the edge thereof between the pivot c and the lug c2. The strut and portion of the lever C between the lug c and pivot c act as a toggle to force the edge of the strut tightly against the shoulder a on the lower edge of the ax. The strut is locked in such position through the engagement of the hook f with the end of the lever C adjacent to the lug c2. The engagement vof the hook f with the lug c2 also serves as a stop to limit the outward movement of the extensible portion E of the handle. When it is desired to fold the ax preparatory to` in serting it in the pocket of the user, the ,extensibl'e portion of the handle is slid inwardly around the portion B thereof, which permits the lever C to oscillate about its pivot, and thereby disengage the end of the strut from the shoulder a on the head of the ax. The strut then swings into the position shown in Fig. 2, and the head of the ax is received partially within the portion B of the handle, itsV cutting edge A being surrounded by the strut. The engagement of the hook f with the strut retains the same closely aroundthe cutting y edge of the ax.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have invented an improved folding ax the parts of which are capable of being folded into a compact form when the ax is to be carried in the pocket and which may be rigidly secured in extended position through the cooperation of the telescopic handle and strut actuated thereby.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto,'asI contemplate changes in form, the

proportion of parts, and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest 'or render expedient-without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

IfIaVing now fully described my invention, 6o

to the handle, a strut for retaining the head in position for use, and means actuated by the relative movement of the telescopic parts of the handle for locking the strut in position to support the head in its operative condition.

3. vIn a folding ax, the combination with a telescopic handle, of a head pivotally secured to the handle, a strut for retaining the head in position for use and for protecting the cutting .edge when the head is folded, and means actuated by the relative movement of the telescopic parts of the handle for locking the strut in position to support the head in its operative condition and for holding the strut around the cutting edge when the head is in its folded position.

4. In a folding ax, the combination with a telescopic handle composed of 'metal pipe flattenedat one end, of a head pivotally secured between the sides of the iiattened portion of the handle, a lever pivotally mounted within the handle, a strut pivoted to one end of the lever, a inger secured to the telescopic part of the handle adapted when the handle is extended to engage and swing the lever to lock the strut in position to support the head in condition for u se and adapted when the handle is telescoped and the head folded to engage the strut and hold the same around the cutting edge of the head.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES P. WING.

- /Vitnesses:-

Guo. L. WILKINsoN, C. C. CUNNINGHAM.

ICO 

